Four days after the hurricane made landfall in northeast Florida, the extent of the damage remains difficult to establish, with several areas remaining inaccessible and lacking telephone networks and electricity.
With a provisional toll of more than 110 deaths and devastation in the southeast of the United States, Hurricane Helene took part this Monday, September 30 in an acrimonious presidential campaign, with Donald Trump attacking the management of the disaster by Biden administration.
Hélène hit Florida on Thursday evening as an “extremely dangerous hurricane” of category 4 on a scale of 5, then crossed other American states while losing intensity.
At least 118 people have lost their lives and 600 people are still missing, according to President Joe Biden, who warned that the toll could still seriously rise. This is one of the most devastating hurricanes in recent decades, according to American media.
Trump says ‘federal state is not responsive’
And for Joe Biden, there is “no doubt” that these devastations are due to climate change which, by warming the waters of the seas, makes, according to scientists, the rapid intensification of storms more likely and increases the risk of more powerful hurricanes.
Georgia and North Carolina, two states particularly affected by this natural disaster, are among the seven pivotal states that could swing the presidential election on November 5.
Donald Trump visited Valdosta, a disaster-stricken town in Georgia, on Monday. The Republican presidential candidate in November pledged to “bring lots of relief supplies, including fuel, equipment and water” to those in need.
“The federal state is not responsive,” the former president lambasted on the spot, after earlier accusing the government and Democratic authorities in North Carolina of “deliberately not helping people in Republican areas.”
“He’s lying,” retorted a virulent Joe Biden. “What makes me angry (is that he) implies that we are not doing everything that is possible. (…) It’s false and it’s irresponsible.”
Wearing his usual red cap, Donald Trump also directly attacked his Democratic rival Kamala Harris, accusing her of being “on the move, campaigning” before asserting himself that it was not the time to “talk politics”. The vice-president, however, canceled campaign events to hold a meeting on Monday on the disaster and announced that she would go there soon.
Outgoing President Joe Biden has brushed aside criticism from Republicans over his management of the crisis. “I spent at least two hours on the phone yesterday, as well as the day before,” he retorted, assuring that the federal authorities would be “there as long as necessary.”
The Democrat also announced that he would travel to North Carolina this Wednesday. He had previously indicated that he would not travel as long as it could disrupt relief operations.
